The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-09-22
President Cleveiand'S Record
Towards the Soldiers.

We publish below plain spok-
en- article from the Grand Lru,y
| Gasette. the national organ Of the
q. A. r., commenting upon the
course of President Cleveland's
administration, relating 10 the
soldiers. The old veterans will
approve the sentiment herein eX-
pressed:
! The Gazette does not sympa-
thize with indiscriminate attacks
made upon the President of the
United States. While in that po-
sition he represents before the
world the great Anne ican Repub-
lie, and his honor and dignity
should be as dear to us as ,ur
own. That he has made mistakes
is probable, for he is human,
and that entails a liabili y 10 err.
But that he has erred wilfully
and knowingly we do not believe,
and he has been charged with
many things which the facts do
not sustain.
For instance il has been pro-
claimed that Mr.. Cleyeland is
hostile TO the old soldiers, and
has lost no opportunity to oppose
legislation in their behalf. Let
ms look at the facts in the case
and see if this sweeping assertion
is founded on truth.
An investigation of the pension
legislation for the past seventeen
years shows that General Grant,
from 1870 to 1S77 inclusive, per-
iod OF eight years, approved 4So
private pension acts; President
Hayes, Fl ON 1877 to 1851, inclu-
sive, period of four years. ap-
proved 303 private pension acts;
Presidents Garfield and Arthur,
from 1882 10 1885, inclusive, a
period of four years, approved
1876 urIva!e pension acts; while
President Cleveland from 1850
1887 inclusive, a period of only
two years. has approved S63 prl-
vate pension acts.
:shis is II more than President
Grant and Hayes approved in y
years, and 1911 more than Presi-
dents Garfield and; Arthur ap-
proved in 4 years.
On the other hand the Presi-
dent has vetoed 123 private pen.
sion bills. In the former he un-
Loub edly acted in conformity
with his duty as it appeared TO
him from the testimony and doc
uments submitted TO him, and
his veto of the dependent pension
bill was shown TO be in accord
with the preponderating sentl-
ment, not only of the country at
large, but of the veterans them
selves.
But there is other evidence of
the Presidents friendly attitude
towards the Union soldiers. He
has appointed more veterans TO
office than any other President.
To be sure, some old soldiers and
sailors of an opposite political
faith have been removed from Of
flee. but the fact remains that
more veterans are to day holding
official position under the Gov
ernment than at any previous
portion OF our history.
The President also approved
the bill increasing the pension Of
widows, minors and dependent
relatives /; the act increasing in
large number of cases, the pen
sions of MANNED and crippled
soldiers, and the act giving Il pen
sion to the Survivors of the war
with Mexico. and the widows of
deceased soldiers who took part
in that struggle.
In view Of these facts, and Of
the additional one, that never
before, in spite ofthe rapidly in
creasing death rate, was there so
large number of pensioners up
on the rolls of the Pension Bu-
reau as now, is it not about time
to call halt, and ask the blatant
demagogues who are making
these nnfounded attacks 10 take
back seat? In the end, those
who make use of such menda-
cious methods will surely be the
sufferers. for the American peo-
pie is too intelligent and loo fond
of fair play to be long made The
victims of such barefaced decep-
ton.